OUR VISION – BUILDING JEWISH LIFE

The Jewish Community Centre (JCC) movement was founded over 150 years ago in the United States. Today, there are over 1,100 JCCs worldwide.

THE JCC FOR LONDON

The JCC for London aims to provide Jews with a lasting sense of community and to promote the best of Jewish values. At its core is building Jewish life, through Jewish cultural, Jewish social, Jewish education, and recreational Jewish activities. Social action is also central to the JCC movement – helping those in need both within and outside the Jewish community. Most JCCs have their own building where they hold extensive programmes of activities. JCC Ventures, our sister organisation, is working on plans for a building.

WHO IS THE JCC FOR?

The JCC for London celebrates Jewish culture. It is also inclusive: it’s for anyone interested in Jewish life and our programme of Jewish activities. It is not a place of worship, nor linked to any particular group, movement or synagogue. It’s a gateway into all things Jewish: from Jewish food to sport to Jewish arts to debate, with activties that emphasise the Jewish tradition of helping those in need. It’s a great place for Jews of all ages to meet other Jews; it’s a way of building a strong Jewish future for us and for our children through Jewish activities. The JCC actively welcomes observant and secular Jews, mixed partnerships, and non-Jews. Indeed, an important part of our vision is to create better understanding between different faiths and cultures.

WHAT WE DO NOW: OUR PROGRAMME

The programme of Jewish activities is the soul of the JCC. We have already created very successful London Jewish events, often in partnership with others. Applauded for their compelling and original Jewish content, highlights include a sell-out Israeli rock concert at the Southbank Centre, the Kvetch Choir, a podcast in association with The Guardian, yoga and cycling activities, children’s events, political debate and a series of social action projects. The JCC aims to hold up a 21st century lens to Jewish life, and to build a community of artists and performers. Many of our groundbreaking commissions interweave Jewish beliefs and values with those of other cultures.